Today, I'm reviewing a new cozy mystery called Peppermint Cream Die as part of a blog tour.
(Book 1 in The HSP Mysteries)
Author: Carol E. Ayer
Genres: Cozy mystery
Number of pages: 190
Publisher: Camel Press
Publication Date: 13 October 2020
ISBN: 978-160381-618-2/978-160381-629-8
Digital ASIN: B08LK1KLRV
Synopsis:
Kayla Jeffries, home bakery owner and HSP (Highly
Sensitive Person), has arranged her life just so to avoid stressful
overstimulation. The California oceanside community in which she lives proves
the perfect venue for the quiet and peaceful existence she desires. She happily
spends her time baking, walking along the beach, and spending time with her
close friends.
But when Kayla discovers her elderly friend Trudy
Dillingham has been strangled, she vows to do anything she must to help bring
the killer to justice, including overcoming the stress and sensory overload
involved in playing amateur detective.
Using her HSP talents of attention to detail and
ability to read other people's emotions, Kayla eventually cracks the case, all
the while juggling two cats and a dog, non-stop orders for the Christmas
holidays, and a budding relationship with handsome restaurateur Jason Banks.
Book Review of Peppermint Cream Die
"I'm also the one who found her and I'm trying to
figure out who would have wanted to hurt her. Any ideas?"
"Me, for one."
Peppermint Cream Die by Carol E.
Ayer is the first book in The HSP Mysteries and my first read for Ayer.
The
main character Kyla is an HSP, a highly sensitive person. In other words, she
struggles in certain situations like extreme stress or even extreme lighting
and sounds.
I
never knew that there was something as being an HSP and that was an interesting
discovery for me. It also contributes to Kyla's character, making her sensitive
to certain things while also helping her read others' body language.
Peppermint Cream Die opens with Kayla having a chat with
her friend Trudy only to leave her to finish some stuff and discover a couple
of hours later that Trudy died, or worse that she'd been strangled.
During the conversation
prior to Trudy's death, Trudy tells Kayla: "I like
your sensitivity and compassion, but sometimes you need to break through your
fears and do things you don't want to. You might end up having the best
adventure of your life, or, at least, an excellent learning experience."
Reading this on the
first page, I felt it was like a kind of foreshadowing of what's about to
happen to Kayla and how she'll need to work around her HSP to solve a murder.
"The
lack of eye contact and way she was fiddling with her necklace made me think
she was lying and that she knew exactly what the fight was about."
With Trudy gone, Trudy's
cat Sugar lands in Kayla's lap and Kayla is worried about the new house guest. But
a second death lands another cat in Kayla's one-person household and it's
Sugar's sister. You'll love what she names the second kitty.
Despite being an HSP,
Kayla is a baker, well cake-maker. And she loses herself in her baking and designs
and just reading about what she's doing I fell in love with the cakes too.
Every time I sit down to
Peppermint Cream Die, my mouth watered and I craved chocolate – and I used
it as another reason to nibble on something :D
In the book, Kayla isn't
struggling with a lack of suspects but more of an abundance of suspects as it
seems Trudy had wronged many people in the past.
"Kayla,
what has gotten into you? I thought you lived for staying at home, baking,
reading, and walking on the beach. Now suddenly you're investigating crimes and
you're the victim of break-ins."
One of the reasons I picked
up Peppermint Cream Die was because of its title and the cover. I know I
shouldn't judge a book by its cover but I can't resist anything with
peppermint.
There
was a time in the book when I struggled a bit with Kayla and felt that there
was additional focus on her baking and business, which I felt wasn't needed.
Plus
there is lots of description especially with how the days are moving forward –
with no progress in the book or solving the murder. That said, the ending of Peppermint Cream Die was super-fast-paced
and action-filled.
The
book comes with a touch of romance as Kayla meets Jason but I felt their
interactions and relationship was quite childish especially since both are over
30.
Although
Kayla struggles with HSP, she goes to lengths – greater than the police – to uncover
the reason behind her friend's murder.
There
were a few flaws with Kayla's character like being childish with the romance. I
also disliked the repetition of events Kayla had to go through when relating
events to her friend Isabella.
On
the other hand, I loved the ending. It was amazing with a grand finale and
confrontation. It had me rooting for Kayla and her friends.
Peppermint Cream Die is a great
holiday read.
Overall I enjoyed reading Peppermint Cream Die and would like to see
more of this series in the future.
Overall
rating: 3.5 stars
Note: I got a free copy of Peppermint Cream Die as part of a blog tour by Lori's Great Escapes
Virtual Book Tours. This did not, in any way, affect my review.
Carol Ayer, a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), lives halfway
between San Francisco and Sacramento with her cat, Rainn.
When she’s not writing, she’s reading mysteries and
thrillers or watching movies and cooking shows. As a native Californian, she
visits the ocean as often as possible.
Connect with Carol Ayer via her Website, Blog,
Facebook, and Twitter.
Purchase Links: Amazon - B&N - Kobo
Thank you so much for reviewing my book!
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